IDAH KLOPPS ANFIELD TRIP FOR WAGNER

Bristol Rovers 1 Norwich 3

DAVID WAGNER can look forward to a reunion with best pal Jurgen Klopp after the Norwich boss inspired a stunning turnaround against Bristol Rovers.

The Championship side looked set to be on the receiving end of a cup shock when they trailed at half-time at the Memorial Stadium.

But whatever Wagner (below) said at the break worked a treat and goals from Gabriel Sara, Adam Idah and Kenny McLean secured a fourth-round trip to Anfield.

Rovers looked more up for it than their visitors and dominated the early exchanges as a dream tie at Liverpool loomed.

Norwich old boy Chris Martin set the tone with a hard-working performance – both in attack and defence.

Antony Evans almost opened the scoring in stunning fashion but was superbly denied as George Long tipped his long-range effort wide.

However, Rovers were not to be kept at bay for much longer and from the resultant corner McCormick put Matt Taylor’s battlers in control.

The Chelsea youth product sent the Mem wild when he thumped a low shot beyond Long from the edge of the box on 20 minutes. Sara was the only Norwich player who offered any spark and he gave the visiting supporters something to shout about with a longdistance effort which Matt Cox pushed over.

Rovers went for it after the break, only to see Long pull off a terrific save to deny Thomas.

The Canaries finally woke up and levelled through Sara when he bundled the ball in from close range.

The Gasheads then got caught out by a swift counter-attack which proved decisive.

The were left badly outnumbered as Idah and his colleagues poured forward and were punished when Connor Taylor brought down McLean in the box. Referee Andy Davies pointed straight to the spot and Idah (celebrating, above) gave Norwich a 58th-minute lead.

Brentford loanee Cox got a hand to the penalty, only to see the ball spin over the line.

Rovers refused to give up, but any hopes of a first visit to Anfield since 1992 faded when Martin wasted a good opportunity as he thumped a shot straight at the outstanding Long.

The industrious McLean had the final say in the 87th minute when he drove home from distance to seal the win.